Improvement in the process of stripping tobacco-leaves



W. W. HUSE.

Srppng Tobacco.

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y UNITED STATES PATENTI OFFICE.

VILLIAIVI YV. HUSE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENTmTHE PROCESS OF'STRIPPING ToBACco-LEAVES,

Specilication forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,956, dated November 1E, 1862.

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. Huss, of Brooklyn, Kings county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Process of Stripping Tobacco-Leaves; and I do hereby declare that rial injury to the leaf. This mode of treatment occupies too much space in a factory and consumes too much time, and, besides, the leaves, after having been stripped, require to be partially dried before the after processes. I havediscovered that by a direct application of steam to the dry leaves they immediately soften, so as to admit of stripping` them without injury, and that as soon as they are removed from Vthe presence of the steam they are in a suitable condition for the succeeding process in the manufacture of chewing-tobacco.

The apparatus which I have used with success in working my said improved process is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan, Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 3 a cross vertical section.

In the said drawings, a represents a trough with a steanrpipe, b, extending horizontally through it. This pipe communicates with any suitable steam-generator, and is provided with a cock or valve, c, by which the supply of steam can be shut off when desired. That part of the pipe which is within the trough ispierced with small holes for the escape of the steam into the trough, which is covered with a woolen cloth, d. This cloth forms a table, on which the tobacco-leaves are placed and worked, and as the steam issues from the pipe into the trough it rises and passes through the pores of the woolen cloth and acts on thetobacco-leaves lying on it and softens them, so that they can be stripped at once,' and so soon as they are stripped and removedfrom the inluence of the steam they are sufficiently dry to be worked up.

Cotton or linen cloth I have found to b e obA j ectionable in working my said process, for the reason that the steam condenses on the sul face and wets the leaves; but woolen cloth, either woven or felted loosely, I have found to answer a good purpose, and I prefer woolen cloth to all other substances, although I do not wish to be'understood as limiting my claim of invention to the use of cloth of any special kind. yWhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The process of stripping tobacco-leaves while under the influence of steam, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM XV. I-IUSE. lVitnesses:

A. DE LACY, WM. II. BIsnor, 

